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In this elegant six-part series, Sir Richard Eyre--former director of the Royal National Theatre--explores the history of 20th century drama and its confluence with the theater of Ireland, America, and Germany. Evocative archival footage of many of the century's most memorable productions is blended with firsthand testimonies from the writers, actors, and directors who made them possible.

Shakespeare: drama's DNA.Irish theater: raw bones and poetry.America: Broadway and dramatic realism.Looking back: British theater, two wars later.Between Brecht and Beckett.Future of theater: but is it art?Changing stages : 100 years of theater

Responsibility:

a BBC/Thirteen WNET co-production ; written and presented by Richard Eyre.

Abstract:

In this elegant six-part series, Sir Richard Eyre--former director of the Royal National Theatre--explores the history of 20th century drama and its confluence with the theater of Ireland, America, and Germany. Evocative archival footage of many of the century's most memorable productions is blended with firsthand testimonies from the writers, actors, and directors who made them possible.

Reviews

Once in a while, a television series comes from the BBC that is a
milestone in educational television. This happened with Kenneth
Clark's <I>Civilization</I>, Jacob Bronowski's <I>Ascent of Man</I>, and Robert
Hughes' <I>Shock of the New</I>. Now we have Sir Richard...Read more...

Once in a while, a television series comes from the BBC that is a
milestone in educational television. This happened with Kenneth
Clark's Civilization, Jacob Bronowski's Ascent of Man, and Robert
Hughes' Shock of the New. Now we have Sir Richard Eyre's monumental
Changing Stages: 100 Years of Theater, a film history of English
speaking theater in the 20th century.

Using both recent interviews and archival film footage with prominent
playwrights, directors, producers and actors, Eyre provides a
comprehensive history of English Theater over the last hundred years.
Individual titles in this series include: Shakespeare: Drama's DNA, Irish
Theater: Raw Bones and Poetry, America: Broadway and Dramatic Realism,
Looking Back: British Theater, Two Wars Later, Between Beckett and Brecht:
Looking In, Looking Out, The Future of Theater: But is it Art?

Changing Stages has an impressive array of leading experts on the
theater. Contemporary directors Trevor Nunn, Peter Brook, Julie
Taymor, Peter Hall, Hal Prince and Robert LePage provide insightful
commentary on contemporary theater. Living playwrights Arthur Miller,
Tom Stoppard, Peter Shaffer, Harold Pinter (as well deceased
playwrights George Bernard Shaw, Sean O'Casey, Tennessee Williams)
comment on their own plays and those of their contemporaries. Acting
legends, John Gielgud, Laurence Oliver, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen
explain their interpretations of Shakespeare. Extensive coverage is
also given to influential theaters in Great Britain such as the
National Theater, Royal Shakespeare Company, Old Vic, and Stratford on
Avon. Moreover, especially important for this series, brief film
excerpts from important 20th century plays or performances are
included.

Production values in this series were generally excellent, as would be
expected from the BBC. Most of the programs were shot on location
with Richard Eyre acting as both narrator and commentator. Black and
white archival interviews were seamlessly juxtaposed with contemporary
interviews and commentary. Some rare examples of plays done on
television are used, and even faded old documentary film footage was
cleaned up to acceptable viewing levels. All theater commentators are
identified by subtitles. Picture quality was very good, and clear on
the examination copies.

However, the music was a major disappointment. Compared to the great
musical selections that accompanied Sir Kenneth Clark's Civilization,
this series seemed musically anemic. Some Stravinsky and Erik Satie
were used on one tape, but great music was sadly lacking. Why was
music from Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Robin Hood used in the section on
American theater? I also had some minor sound problems on one tape,
but it may have been due to the Hi Fi setting on my VCR.

I have several very small complaints about the content of the
programs. First, why was Samuel Beckett, a playwright who wrote his
plays in French, included, while French/Romanian playwright, Eugene
Ionesco, was not? Moreover, why was Stanislavskiâs, Method Acting (so
influential in America), and the Actor's Studio not covered? I was
also somewhat personally put off by the overemphasis on the political
theater of Bertolt Brecht and Clifford Odets. Finally, although
American and Irish theater each get their own program, the series'
emphasis is definitely on British theater.

While Changing Stages: 100 years of Theater may seem diffuse and too
detailed to non theater majors, I believe it will be the definite
television documentary series on the history of English speaking
theater for some time to come. All universities and colleges with
serious theater programs will need to purchase this outstanding
series. It is a must, the best of its kind. Very highly recommended.